Starrett breaks ranks on trail project

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Shasta

So even though there is strong, and almost unanimous support throughout the community for the project.....she still does not support the project? I guess I'd have to say this is what I would expect from Starret. Truely an extreme point of view. This goes to show what I've always thought.....She is so out of touch with the citizens of the community on issues. Does she even no where Carlton is?

07:34 am - Fri, August 1 2014

my_wits_end

Can't say I'm surprised. I knew from a simple brief inquiry that she would be horrible for the county, only pursuing her personal desire for attention, and not giving a damn about the rest of the county. Unfortunately, she got a few weak minded people to endorse her, and she had enough money to assault our eyes with her campaign signs everywhere we looked. The less informed among us voted for her thinking she was the better choice because of this. She won by saturation and deception, not because she deserves it, and we will be the ones to suffer. I fear she is only beginning to show her disregard for the county and our interests.

10:40 am - Fri, August 1 2014

Spongebob

"Truely an extreme point of view." You people make me laugh. She's been in office for a month. She votes against a letter of support for a trail project, and is exposed for her true "disregard for the county and our interests."

Give me a break. I didn't vote for the woman, but this kind of knee-jerk over-reaction is unwarranted.

11:10 am - Fri, August 1 2014

my_wits_end

I disagree. Even a modest attempt to look at where her interests lie will show that the reaction is justified. She does not represent us, only herself, and I worry that she will continue to get worse as she settles into the position.

11:20 am - Fri, August 1 2014

treefarmer

We can see clearly what the Tea Party influence has done to divide and paralyze our U.S. Congress. Considering her political leanings, what else did the voters of Yamhill County expect when they elected Ms. Starrett? Elections do indeed have consequences.

12:57 pm - Fri, August 1 2014

Shasta

The rights of property owners? That makes no sense at all. What is she even talking about? Is she suggesting that down the road perhaps the Westsider Trail is going to try and snatch or grab/take private property away from people?Or somehow, someway prevent property owners from doing what they want with their land. A downright dilusional point of view. I'd like to ask her what examples of losing property rights is she refering to? If she even knows. I'd also like to ask how her point of view is helping to improve the local economy?

01:12 pm - Fri, August 1 2014

listen*up

if anyone bothered to watch the youtube video of the yamelas westsider trail fly over you can see that even 5 million won't cover the cost to build this trail,or the cost for up keep,most of the route has no rail on it,it goes straight through neigborhoods and parking lots,farm land and forested areas,all of this would have to be graded first,trees cut,asphalt layed,wood chips layed,picnic and restroom areas installed,signage installed and who pays for the up keep?it won't be a 5ft.wide trail the easement would be 60ft .Who would keep the bikers and equestrians from going off trail and on to private land because we all know they will.I don't own any of this land I don't even know any of the land owners,but what I do know is when someone says this will only cost x amount of dollars it usually means 10 times that amount,this whole thing smells of greed,who's bank accounts will benefit from this,it's always about money.

09:38 am - Sat, August 2 2014

Shasta

@listen up, "this whole thing smells of greed"? Really? From a path? How so? Its about having something a community can be proud of and enjoy. The path is already there, The only question is.....do they leave it to the blackberry briars to overgrow so no one can enjoy it or maybe actually use it for something that a community can enjoy. Seems like a waste to have it just sit there. I guess some people would just rather do nothing. And thats ok. Fortunately most people can see what it can offer for good use and how it would benefit multiple communities. Everything costs something.

09:58 am - Mon, August 4 2014

Tuvey

Plenty of good ideas here. In Hawai'i there is a great bike path that goes from Kapolei to Pearl Harbor - at least that's the part I biked, and it's incredible for bikers to use and stay away from traffic. At the same time there were scary and questionable people living in the woods off of this trail. Even if you had a flat you did not stop at certain parts but kept going until you got to a road or some other public place. The path was about 5 feet wide and did not take up any extra room for other utilities.

I see this path as a wonderful thing. I can ride to work without the terrors of Hwy 47 or the back roads between Yamhill and McMinnville. At the same time, I have property along this route and will be subject to people who decide to stray from the path and "enjoy" my pasture. Of course, I have people who drive down my road now and steal my mail, dump their trash or case my house for future theft. With the help of neighbors watching out for each other we're getting a handle on it and if the path goes through I think we can handle the "straying" as well.

01:24 pm - Mon, August 4 2014

jeff k

I appreciate commissioner Starrett bringing to every ones attention not only thelegal action in Wyoming, but also the fact that any monies spent on this projectwould definately help with existibg road maintenance costs if applied to roads and benefit far more people and also help County public works address a longlist of safety improvements already targeted when monies are available. Safetyis a major issue on Couny roads and also a legal requirement.

Also one more point. Maintenance costs these projects like this are neverestimated very close, but prove very costly when tracked accurately.

not a tea party member

08:15 pm - Tue, August 5 2014

Tuvey

Springer said statute limits the county to use of gas tax revenue to fund its road-paving program. He said it cannot legally commit general fund money to that purpose, eliminating any conflict between trail and road demands.

Apparently county road money is not being used for this project so safety is not being altered from what it would be. Is Springer wrong?

10:09 pm - Tue, August 5 2014

BlueDak

Wow. Do landowners want to accept liability for cleanup of historic hazardous spills from derailments as they come to light?Shouldn’t this be in public hands where there are resources and more transparency to address it? Owning an abandoned RR right-of-way is not a pleasant windfall, it’s a ticking time-bomb.